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Birmingham City in the Noughties - it was quite the time for Blues

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Today we look back at when former Birmingham Mail writer picked his best Blues team from the Noughties.

The decade will be remembered as a significant period in Birmingham City history. It was when they rejoined the party.

The 1980s were grim, desolate times. In the mid-1990s, the club perked up.

In 2001 Blues reached a major domestic final for the first time in 38 years. A little further down the line and it was back into the top flight, a Premier League debut.

Former Birmingham City Chairman Carson Yeung
Former Birmingham City Chairman Carson Yeung

There was also an ill-starred change of ownership as Carson Yeung ended the Gold, Sullivan and Brady era.

So quite a time, the Noughties, all told for Blues.

But what of the players who represented them? Who stood out, who stank the place out? Colin explained his thinking.

"Tasked with picking a best XI of the decade, it seemed straightforward at first. But it wasn’t.

"I’ve seen genius (Christophe Dugarry), jokers (Ferdinand Coly), those who came somewhere inbetween and Robbie Savage.

"Blues’ first game in 2000 was against Steve Bruce’s Huddersfield Town, when Bryan Hughes ushered the new decade in with the first goal – after just 12 seconds.

2001: Blues V Liverpool  - Worthington Cup Final 2001. Trevor Francis cries with Andrew Johnson at the end after he missed the last penalty
2001: Blues V Liverpool - Worthington Cup Final 2001. Trevor Francis cries with Andrew Johnson at the end after he missed the last penalty

"That year Blues lost in the play-off semi-finals, as they did so in 2001, following-up the unlucky Worthington Cup final defeat by Liverpool (Stephane Henchoz foul on Andrew Johnson, anyone?).

"But only two players from those early days of the decade make my starting side.

"Unsurprisingly, the main body of the team is made up of stalwarts of Blues’ initial Premier League campaigns, between 2002-06. Many of them also provided sterling service in the Championship during the interim periods.

"So let’s start at the beginning or, rather, at the back."

Goalkeeper

Blues' keeper Maik Taylor
-Credit:Mark Thompson/Getty Images

"Ian Bennett’s best work for Blues was in the 1990s. Nico Vaesen was a play-off hero of 2002 in the penalty shoot-out against Norwich City.

"Goalkeeper, it has to be Maik Taylor. Signed on loan from Fulham, the move was made permanent and the Northern Ireland international’s outstanding performances in 2003-04 made him arguably the Premier League’s best in the position. Taylor also deserved more credit than he got for last season’s consistency, when he often kept Blues in games that were in the balance by making a superb save.

Defence

Matt Upson at Birmingham City
Matt Upson at Birmingham City

"As for the back four, the Kenny Cunningham-Matthew Upson partnership, when both were fresh and fit, takes some beating.

"Cunningham’s shrewd, vacuuming-like play – the Dublin Baresi – and Upson’s coltish dominance made for a perfect bedrock.

"It was a shame that it went sour for both men, but that was a signpost of the problems to come for the club.

"Honourable mentions go to Darren Purse, the ice cool scorer of stoppage time equalising penalty in the Worthington Cup final, Radhi Jaidi and the reliable and underrated Martin Taylor.

"At full-back, a little bit of cheating. Stan Lazaridis gets the nod for the left berth, a position where he did play for a period, very decently too.

"More recognisable as a winger, a Lazaridis-type player has been sorely missed by Blues since his seven years at the club ended in 2006. He was deceptively quick and could carry the ball up field to stretch the play and make Blues less predictable. And, when on song, he produced a stream of decent crosses.

"For right-back, hold your breath – none other than Olivier Tebily. Yes, that’s right. Jeff Kenna was an excellent servant, a model pro and more reliable.

"But Tebily, although often seen as something of a fun figure, made a good contribution to Blues. When he arrived from Celtic in 2002, it coincided with the team’s unbeaten surge all the way to Cardiff glory.

Olivier Tebily
Olivier Tebily

"His hounding of Millwall’s Tim Cahill in the play-off semi-final at The Den and tackling Stuart Nethercott without his boot are the stuff of legend.

"Tebily was then moved from midfield to either full-back spot, and did a decent turn in those first couple of Premier League seasons, playing 40 times.

"Yes, he was erratic but his muscular play provided backbone for Blues and he once saw out a game against Charlton Athletic despite rupturing knee ligaments.

"Tebily kind of drifted through until his time was up in 2007 as Bruce sought better and although Mario Melchiot was more talented, elegant and dynamic, the Ivorian gets my nod as he was typical of what Blues were all about back then."

Midfield

"Typical, too, was Savage. He was the heartbeat of Bruce’s Blues when everything about the club rocked with enthusiasm. He loved it at St Andrew’s too, and the manner in which he engineered his departure was sad.

"Savage, Damien Johnson and Sebastian Larsson make up my midfield three.

"There has always been an air of snobbery surrounding Johnson when discussed by fans, and although his temper has been a problem at times, he has seldom let Blues down to the degree of some others. Johnson played in every position across midfield, and both full-back spots, without fuss.

Damien Johnson.
Damien Johnson.

"His finest time came when he single-handedly tried to save Blues from relegation in 2006 with some astonishingly energetic and motivated performances during the run-in. He deservedly swept the board in the player-of-the-season awards and, although someone who keeps himself to himself, he could barely disguise his contempt for team-mates he felt were slackers and weren’t that bothered.

"Stephen Clemence, David Dunn and Olivier Kapo had their merits – the latter being the most talented but most infuriating player at the club since Dugarry.

"But Larsson completes the middle trio for his end-to-end energy, footballing intelligence, unselfishness and moments of inspiration from dead balls especially.

Strikers

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce with his new signing - the former French international, Christophe Dugarry, at a press conference at St Andrew's, in 2002.
-Credit:PA/Nick Potts

"In attack, it goes without saying that Dugarry is the focal point. Those six months from January 2003 were outstanding. Dugarry lifted Blues’ play when an instant return to the second-tier was likely, mesmerising the opposition as well as his team-mates. He soon became indifferent and bored and wasn’t at Blues for long, but what an impact, what a player.

"Emile Heskey and Stern John deserve consideration, and I have not included Geoff Horsfield. He’s probably the unluckiest of the lot.

"Mikael Forssell and Cameron Jerome complete my three-pronged attack.

"Forssell’s 17 goals in 2003-04 did so much to lift Blues to 10th, their highest position for 31 years. It was such a shame his effectiveness was diluted due to knee trouble.

"And what of Jerome? He is preferred to Horsfield as he tended to come up with the key goal or play during the Championship promotions of 2007 and 2009 and in-between was a threat in the Premier League.

"Jerome wasn’t always a regular starter for Blues but when Blues played to his strengths correctly, he was a mightily effective player."

COLIN TATTUM’S XI:

Maik Taylor; Olivier Tebily, Kenny Cunningham, Matthew Upson, Stan Lazaridis;

Sebastian Larsson, Robbie Savage, Damien Johnson; Cameron Jerome, Christophe Dugarry, Mikael Forssell.

Subs: Geoff Horsfield, Stephen Clemence, Darren Purse, Jeff Kenna, Martin Taylor, Bryan Hughes, Emile Heskey